QUINCY, Ill. -  A strong second half push was not enough for QU as the Hawks fell to Missouri Southern 97-86 Saturday afternoon (Dec. 16). 

The Hawks overcame a torrid start by the Lions as Missouri Southern jumped out to a 22-1 lead over QU in the first seven minutes of the first half. 

QU's first field goal came at the 12:58 mark in the first half on a Marsalis Johnson's jumper. 

A Hawks 7-0 run trimmed the Lions lead to 25-10 with 10:33 to play in the opening half. 

The Lions hot shooting continued throughout the first half and Missouri Southern took a 25-point lead into halftime. 

QU scored the first five points of the second half and cut the lead to 54-34. 

With the Hawks trailing 63-37 with 15:40 to play in the second half, Ryan Briscoe came to life. 

Briscoe scored 12 of the Hawks next 14 points and the Hawks cut the lead to 67-51. 

The Hawks continued to chip away at the lead and brought the Lions to just six after a Briscoe layup and a free throw with 8:50 to play in the game. 

Demetrius Houston brought the deficit to four on a layup with 8:01 remaining. 

Missouri Southern pushed the lead back to eight with 3:25 left in the second half. 

Houston scored on another layup and drew a foul to cut the lead to five. 

The Hawks could not bring the lead any closer and fell to Lions 97-86. 

Ryan Briscoe poured in a career-high 31 points on 12-18 shooting, knocking down five three-pointers. 

Demetrius Houston added 19 points and Marsalis Johnson scored 14 points on 5-6 shooting.  

The Hawks fall to 2-8 on the season and will be back in action tomorrow against Ohio Valley at 3:15 in Pepsi Arena.